COLUMN: A lot less division and more multiplication

Robert Kellogg

Wednesday

Nov 21, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 21, 2012 at 7:37 PM

The recent resolution by our all Republican County Commissioner to require a photo on EBT cards is just the latest in a long line of timewasters our current commission has indulged in over the past two years.

On the surface it sounds good to go after the welfare frauds by implementing a photo ID system countywide. In reality, it is impossible to implement as the EBT cards are based on a combined household income and other members in the household should and need to be able to use the cards for needed groceries if the primary holder cannot. How many husbands/wives would be left out in the cold if this illogical idea is implemented? Human Services officials on the state and national level concur that a photo on the card is not plausible.

The basic idea to stem fraud and waste is a good one, but for our local legislators to actually add more government waste all in the name of eliminating it makes no sense. We do need to look at ways to curb fraud, but why waste more money in the process?

This is just the most recent example of chasing after the symptoms of our County ills rather than attempting to fix them.

Case in point, Agenda 21 and the “CONNECT our future project,” which have demonstrated the commissioners’ inability to vote against extreme positions instead of working with other local governments and agencies toward solutions on a host of important issues such as infrastructure, water and sewer, traffic congestion and urban sprawl. These important issues and our connection with other counties and agencies have been severed in order to cater to the hysterical conspiracy theories of those on the fringes of local government.

It doesn’t stop there. There are more examples of the work, or lack there-of in favor of the “NO teeth” approach of resolutions and community bridge burning.

Look no further than the astronomical time spent by our local lawmakers to promote Amendment One. Regardless of where one stood or currently stands on this divisive issue, was there not a better way to spend our county’s time and resources? In the midst of the worst economic collapse of our lifetime, was there not another plan to bring job growth back to Gaston or strengthen our education system than this divisive social issue? I am still waiting to see how many jobs have been created by their resolution to support Amendment One and how many educational opportunities have been opened up to our school students by promoting this amendment on the County Commissioner level.

Resolutions are not the only way that our County Commissioners have been spending their time. They have also spent time arguing with local and community organizations and boards all in the name of the public’s well-being. This is not to say that some of the positions and arguments did not have merit, but is this what we have come to expect from our leaders? Has it become acceptable to appoint county board members or to not reappoint members at will just to stack the deck in favor of their specific views?

Although I agree that the county hospital should consider upping its contribution to the county, is a public tug of war and verbal jousting match the best way to accomplish these goals?

Commissioner Joe Carpenter’s response to the appointment of a new board member instead of Dr. Crouch showcases the political posturing and theatrics of the commission. In his email to Crouch, Carpenter explained that he initially had not planned to make a decision on Crouch’s reappointment until December, but that he “changed my mind and went with the wishes of others.” Dr. Crouch’s response was to tell the commission to go to hell. This is not the type of debate and honest dialogue the citizens of Gaston County should come to expect from its locally elected officials.

One must also question the wisdom of the off the cuff comments given to the local media and the rather flippant responses which show a “full steam ahead” approach to bridge burning rather than bridge building. It is easy to bulldoze an agenda through, but much harder to use diplomacy as true leadership would demand.

The hospital board is not the only place where this heavy-handed approach to local politics is evident. This past year’s finger pointing and vilification of the local school board also points to a pattern of “scorched earth” politics. The school board was made the scapegoat for all of the county’s fiscal woes all the time knowing that our schools are grossly underfunded and cut to the bare bone.

The point to be made here is that our elected county officials should be above the fray. They should not make backroom deals, publically air grievances, burn bridges with local boards and organizations; use their political position for social leaning resolutions or waste taxpayers’ time with all these high dramatics and hijinks while Rome (Gaston) is burning.

There is much, way too much work to be done. There are way too many partnerships to be built and not enough time to do it all. There is way too much division and not enough multiplication on our county commission. It is time to unite, put personal agendas to the side and make the economy and education our top priority instead of offbeat resolutions and political maneuvering. Build bridges don’t burn them. Reach out to others don’t alienate them. Include all people instead of the usual coalitions and use the political bully pulpit of the position for the common good instead of for political expediency.

Kellogg is a resident of Gastonia and chairman of the Gaston County Democratic Party.

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